I have this terrible habit of buying the fruitiest trail mix at the store, and eating pretty much only the nuts before deciding I'm done. Buying the trail mix without fruit takes some serious self control-- at the store, it looks like sweet little pieces of candy. A few bites in, I'm done and ready to move on.

What's better is when the nuts are somehow transformed into a treat, like the cocoa-dusted pecans in this trail mix, which are roasted with a bit of cinnamon and a dash of cayenne.

A healthy dose of chocolate never hurt, so I usually opt for the trail mixes with dessert-like names. No regrets. This trail mix follows suit, with chocolate-covered espresso beans and cacao nibs. It's the perfect afternoon pick-me-up to keep in my desk drawer, with a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of caffeine, and some healthy fat from hazelnuts and macadamia nuts to slow it all down so I don't end up bouncing off the walls (that part is important).

Time to get ready for National Trail Mix Day (It's on the 31st!)!

Mexican Mocha Trail Mix

Paleo, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, | Caitlin Sherwood
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Cocoa-dusted pecans with cinnamon and cayenne, along with chocolate-covered espresso beans make this trail mix a sweet and spicy treat!

Yields: 4 cups |
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

For the pecans:

2 cups pecans

1 egg white

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tablespoon coconut sugar

Pinch cayenne

Small dash salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For the trail mix:

2 cups macadamia nuts

2 cups hazelnuts

1/2 cup cacao nibs

1/2 cup chocolate-covered espresso beans

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Whisk egg white to soft peaks. Fool in pecans until coated. In small bowl, whisk together the cocoa, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne. Toss pecans in mixture. Spread on cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until fragrant. Set aside to cool completely.

Foraged Dish

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Hello! I'm Caitlin, and Foraged Dish is a food blog that focuses on using real ingredients to make dishes that wow you with flavor. Here you'll find my latest recipes and photos. Visit the About page to learn more, and happy browsing!